Va. man guilty of attempted sex assault of child

A 31-year-old Virginia man was convicted today of trying to sexually assault a young girl at a 2010 wedding reception in Elmhurst that he attended although he knew no one involved, authorities said.

The DuPage County state's attorney's office said a jury deliberated about three hours before convicting Priyang Parikh of Alexandria, Virginia, following a three-day trial before Judge Kathryn Creswell.

Parikh traveled to Illinois and went to the reception at the Elmhurst banquet hall without knowing anyone in attendance, and lured the girl into a private room by promising her candy, authorities said.

There Parikh told the girl to close her eyes and open her mouth, and exposed himself to her, according to prosecutors. The young girl screamed and Parikh fled while being chased by the victim and some of her friends.

“The very idea that someone would travel hundreds of miles to crash a wedding with the sole intent of finding a young victim to satisfy his sexual desires is revolting,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin said in a release.

Berlin thanked the police and prosecutors who worked on the case, and added: “Most of all, I would like to thank this young victim for the courage she has shown throughout this entire ordeal. Mr. Parikh thought he had an easy target that night, but this courageous little girl turned the tables on him and was instrumental in today’s verdict.”

Parikh’s bond has been revoked and he faces up to 4 to 15 years in prison. A pre-sentence report will be returned next month.